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Russell Westbrook declines player option with Nuggets, will become free agent

Danby:Daniel Hager•06/13/25•

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© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Nine-time NBA All-Star and former NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook has declined with $3.4M player option with the Denver Nuggets and will become a free agent on June 30, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Friday.

Westbrook, who just wrapped up his 17th NBA season, averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 assists off the bench this year for a Denver team that fell in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Westbrook’s tenure with the Nuggets has seemingly come to an end with a resounding thud, as it was revealed how his teammates really felt about him following a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the playoffs.

“He’s so immature,” an anonymous teammate said of Westbrook following Denver’s game two loss to the Clippers in the First Round. This came minutes after a reported heated discussion took place between Westbrook and Aaron Gordon in the locker room, multiple sources told ESPN. Gordon had reportedly challenged Westbrook about his attitude.

Denver fans had become displeased with Westbrook’s play during the playoffs, as he shot just 39% from the field (52/133). He’ll now head elsewhere for his 18th season, joining what would be his seventh different NBA franchise.

Westbrook plans to continue Hall of Fame career

The Long Beach, CA native was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. Over the span of 17 seasons, Westbrook has crafted a Hall of Fame career. Along with being named a nine-time All-Star and the 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player, he was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, he was the NBA’s scoring champion in 2015 and 2017, was the NBA’s assist leader in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and was selected to an All-NBA team nine times.

Westbrook spent the first 11 years of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, forming a big-three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and himself. Harden however was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2012 and Durant left for theGolden State Warriors in 2016, leaving Westbrook all by his lonesome.

He finally departed OKC in July 2019, as he was traded to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster trade involving 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul. Since then, Westbrook has played for the Rockets, the Washington Wizards, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets.

He however is still seeking his first NBA Championship, so look for the all-time leader in triple doubles to join one of the NBA’s top teams this offseason.